The Institute of Public Works and Engineering Australia (IPWEA) welcomed its new CEO Robert Fuller at its recent conference in Rotorua, as a number of executive changes were also announced.
Fuller will replace retiring CEO Chris Champion, who has held the position of IPWEA CEO for 15 years.
He thanked Chris for his support in the handover and praised conference organisers for the event.
Fuller comes to the role as IPWEA CEO highly experienced across construction, infrastructure, fleet and government sectors having been in management at BP Australia, Honeywell Engineering, and Master Builders Association (MBA).
He is also a former CEO of the Newcastle Master Builder Association, NSW GM and Deputy CEO Printing Industry Association of Australia, QLD State Director CEDA (Committee for Economic Development of Australia), and CEO Hunter Valley Training Company.
Fuller said “I think the conference IPWEA NZ has put on for us has been absolutely outstanding.
“I look forward to seeing all of you and more in Perth.”
The conference marked a significant achievement for Champion, who has navigated the association from a mere $300,000 budget when he started to a $4 million budget and $1 million cash legacy.
Under his guidance, the association has developed into a globally recognised brand in public works and infrastructure asset management and merged with the New Zealand association Ingenium.
“The last 15 years have gone as quickly as the conference.
“We’ve come a long way.
“I never foresaw that IPWEA would be where it is today.”
He will be stepping down as CEO, to move into a new part-time role as Director International Relations for IPWEA. It is a ‘refresh’ as opposed to a ‘retirement’, he told delegates.
“IPWEA has been the most satisfying part of my career.”
IPWEA President Michael Kahler will also be stepping down from his role after two years in tenure.
IPWEA Vice President, Ross Goyne, will step up into the role of President from July and he’ll attend his first meeting in his new capacity in October.
IPWEA NZ President Braden Austin also handed over his presidency to his VP Peter Higgs at an extension of the association’s AGM.
